US4940315A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patterning of insulator on electrochromic material as determinant for area of coloration
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1988-10-05
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Granted: 1990-07-10
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Expires: 2008-10-05
Abstract
Abstract This invention is directed to a method for patterning colorable areas of an electrochromic device. The device comprises two substrates and therebetween: one electrode layer; an electrochromic layer; an insulator material which is (i) non-ionically conductive and (ii) electronically insulating; a solid ion conductive material; and another electrode layer, at least one of the one electrode layer and the other electrode layer being transparent and each electrode layer being in contact with a respective one of the substrates. The ion conductive layer is adapted to communicate ions to and from the electrochromic layer upon application of a voltage across the electrode layes. The method comprises providing areas of the surface of the electrochromic layer which are not to be colorable during operation of the device in contact with the insulator material and not in contact with the ion conductive material, and providing the colorable areas of the surface of the electrochromic layer, which are to be colored upon application of a voltage across the electrode layers, in contact with the ion conductive material. Another aspect of this invention is directed to an electrochromic device patterened according to the method described above.
Inventors
- 👤 Hulya Demiryont
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:49
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/153; G02F1/1533
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for patterning a colorable area of an electrochromic device comprising two substrates and therebetween: one electrode layer; an electrochromic layer; an insulator material which is (i) non-ionically conductive and (ii) electronically insulating; a solid ion conductive material; and another electrode layer, said one electrode layer and said other electrode layer being transparent and each electrode layer being in contact with a respective one of said substrates, said solid ion conductive layer being adapted to communicate ions to and from said electrochromic material upon application of a voltage across said electrode layers, which method comprises: providing areas of said electrochromic layer which are not to be colorable during operation of said device in contact with said insulator material and not in contact with said solid ion conductive material, and providing said colorable areas of said electrochromic layer, which are to be colored upon application of a voltage across said electrodes, in contact with said solid ion conductive material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for patterning a colorable area of an electrochromic device comprising two substrates and therebetween: one electrode layer; an electrochromic layer; an insulator material which is (i) non-ionically conductive and (ii) electronically insulating; a solid ion conductive material; and another electrode layer, said one electrode layer and said other electrode layer being transparent and each electrode layer being in contact with a respective one of said substrates, said solid ion conductive layer being adapted to communicate ions to and from said electrochromic material upon application of a voltage across said electrode layers, which method comprises: providing areas of said electrochromic layer which are not to be colorable during operation of said device in contact with said insulator material and not in contact with said solid ion conductive material, and providing said colorable areas of said electrochromic layer, which are to be colored upon application of a voltage across said electrodes, in contact with said solid ion conductive material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the said electrochromic layer is selected from tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, copper oxide, cobalt oxide, lead oxide, bismuth oxide, iridium oxide and nickel hydroxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said insulator material is selected from polyvinyl butyral, epoxy resin, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , Si 3 N 4 , CeO 2 and ZrO.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein said one electrode layer and said other electrode layer are individually selected from electrode material consisting essentially of doped or undoped (a) tin oxide, (b) indium oxide, (c) indium tin oxide, (d) zinc oxide, and (e) mixtures of any of them.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said ion conductive material is selected from materials comprising hydrogen ions and from materials comprising alkali metal compounds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said alkali metal compounds are selected from compounds comprising nitrates and chlorides of alkali metals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said insulator material is a solid material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
An electrochromic device comprising two substrates and therebetween: one electrode layer; an electrochromic layer; an insulator material which is (i) non-ionically conductive and (ii) electronically insulating; a solid ion conductive material; and another electrode layer, said one electrode layer and said other electrode layer being transparent and each electrode layer being in contact with a respective one of said substrates, said solid ion conductive layer being adapted to communicate ions to and from said electrochromic layer upon application of a voltage across said electrode layers, wherein areas of said electrochromic layer which are not to be colorable during operation of said device are in contact with said insulator material and not in contact with said solid ion conductive material, and said colorable areas of said electrochromic layer, which are to be colored upon application of a voltage across said electrodes, are in contact with said solid ion conductive material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
An electrochromic device comprising two substrates and therebetween: one electrode layer; an electrochromic layer; an insulator material which is (i) non-ionically conductive and (ii) electronically insulating; a solid ion conductive material; and another electrode layer, said one electrode layer and said other electrode layer being transparent and each electrode layer being in contact with a respective one of said substrates, said solid ion conductive layer being adapted to communicate ions to and from said electrochromic layer upon application of a voltage across said electrode layers, wherein areas of said electrochromic layer which are not to be colorable during operation of said device are in contact with said insulator material and not in contact with said solid ion conductive material, and said colorable areas of said electrochromic layer, which are to be colored upon application of a voltage across said electrodes, are in contact with said solid ion conductive material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device according to claim 8, wherein the said electrochromic layer is selected from tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, copper oxide, cobalt oxide, lead oxide, bismuth oxide, iridium oxide and nickel hydroxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device according to claim 8, wherein said insulator material is selected from polyvinyl butyral, epoxy resin, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , Si 3 N 4 , CeO 2 and ZrO.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device according to claim 8, wherein said one electrode layer and said other electrode layer are individually selected from electrode material consisting essentially of doped or undoped (a) tin oxide, (b) indium oxide, (c) indium tin oxide, (d) zinc oxide, and (e) mixtures of any of them.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 8, wherein said ion conductive material is selected from materials comprising hydrogen ions and from materials comprising alkali metal compounds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device according to claim 12, wherein said alkali metal compounds are selected from compounds comprising nitrates and chlorides of alkali metals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device according to claim 8, wherein said insulator material is a solid material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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